TAMPA, Fla. – A 63-year-old man will spend nearly three decades behind bars after a string of armed robberies in Tampa ended with a federal prison sentence. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday sentenced Jose Rodriguez to 27 years in federal prison for robbery and the use of a firearm during those crimes, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
Court records detail a month-long spree that began on August 4, 2024. Rodriguez entered a local pizza shop, drew a pistol, and demanded cash from the staff. The situation ended without physical injury as the three employees managed to flee through the back of the building.
The reprieve for the neighborhood was short-lived. On September 11, 2024, Rodriguez returned to the very same shopping plaza, this time targeting a cellphone store. Witnesses reported that he pointed a gun at employees and threatened them, saying, “Don’t move or I’ll shoot you.” He fled the scene with a small amount of cash.
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The investigation moved quickly as detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and ATF agents combed through surveillance footage from surrounding businesses. Within 48 hours, authorities identified Rodriguez’s vehicle and executed a federal search warrant at his residence.
During the search, agents recovered a two-tone .45 caliber Kahr pistol used in the holdups. A check through the National Crime Information Center revealed the weapon had been stolen from a terminally ill man in Pennsylvania, along with the victim’s car and personal belongings.
Rodriguez’s criminal history played a significant role in the proceedings. He had prior convictions for rape and three separate robberies. Notably, he was on parole from New Jersey for a previous robbery at the time of the Tampa offenses. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes prosecuted the case.
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